Around One Table Archives
Bulletin Insert - February 28, 2010
Bulletin Insert - January 24, 2010
September 2009 Newsletter Update:
In early June, representatives from the Around One Table (AOT) Coordinating Team, Development Office, and staff presented our case for the Parish Life & Ministry Center (PLMC) to the Building & Renovations Commission at the Diocese of Richmond. Highlights of the presentation included:
- a recap of St. Bede’s original Master Plan that called for “buildings which provide more space for our children, youth and all parish age groups for meetings and parish activities” (as quoted in the One Table Campaign Case Statement, 1999)
- reminders of what you, our parishioners, reported as NEEDS in “We Walk by Faith”: more parking, more opportunity for “connecting” with one another and religious education programs across all levels
- an update on St. Bede’s present situation: over 50 active ministry groups, limited meeting space, 645 youth in last year’s Religious Education programs, a 112% increase in Adult Faith Formation and a two-campus staff
By July, Bishop DiLorenzo responded to the presentation. Among his sentiments and recommendations:
- recognized St. Bede’s need for space and a central office
- concerned with parish debt and encouraged our efforts with the new debt reduction program
- phasing construction of the Parish Life & Ministry Center, suggesting site development and additional parking as a first focus based upon your request in “We Walk by Faith”
- insured his support and interest in our progress
All the while, work teams from the AOT Committee have been briefing the Finance and Pastoral Councils, tweaking the plans with our architectural firm, Geier Brown Renfrow Architects, LLC, meeting with attorneys and sustaining the momentum of the project.
Taking all of this into consideration and coupling that with our leaderships’ sensitivity towards the current economy—both at St. Bede and at the Diocesan level--we envision construction of the Parish Life & Ministry Center to be a multi-year project with additional parking and site development completion in Spring 2011. It is difficult to ascertain a long-range timeline as many factors contribute to the quickness with which we can realize the Master Plan for our church: the national economy, the level of your generosity, fluctuating construction costs, growth in the number of registered parishioners, etc. God willing, you will help us quickly bring to life the project which the Around One Table Committee has tirelessly worked towards since 2006.
Read Fr. Abe’s Homily from August 30, 2009
July 2009 Newsletter Update: As meetings and discussions continue to focus on costs, James City County approvals, and organizing a campaign to finance the Parish Life & Ministry Center (PLMC), the re-organization of the Around One Table (AOT) Committee has taken place. The original 14 member committee will be downsized into several work teams – depending on the nature of the task and expertise/interest of the members.
Overall supervision and responsibility for the project will rest with a 4 person Coordinating Team including Larry Fronheiser who will continue to serve as Chair, Father Abe, Charlie Connelly, and Lynne Williams. The Finance Council will assume a more active role in financial decisions, and the Parish Council will make the PLMC the focus of their discussions in future months. Other groups will include the Development Team under the leadership of staff Development Coordinator Erin Pitre. Teams with tasks associated with specific building details will gear up as plans progress in future months and more parishioners will be asked to participate on those teams.
We are at least a year away from receiving the appropriate approvals from James City County and much work remains to be done. The AOT Coordinating Team wants as much information to be available as possible before parish-wide information sessions are conducted. So keep your eyes posted for additional information.
June 2009 Newsletter Update: Hopefully you have seen and read Father Abe’s bulletin article before Easter, and the insert that appeared just after Easter, regarding his vision for the parish that centered on expansion and the new Parish Life & Ministry Center. Additional information and progress reports are always available on the website.
After countless meetings, discussions, and interaction with all phases of parish activities, the planned Parish Life & Ministry Center (PLMC) now has a defined location and appearance. The architects have worked with us to insure that all the needs identified during this 30 month process have been included. The PLMC will be about 44,000 square feet - larger than originally planned to accommodate all facets of parish life that have been established or will be established when the building is completed. Cost estimates are currently being developed.
A social hall and commercial kitchen is included, as well as numerous multi-purpose rooms for religious education, meetings of all types, and a future pre-school. The administrative area will be able to accommodate all parish offices on the Ironbound campus, including the majority of the staff and volunteers still working at the Parish Center. Music Ministry will finally have rehearsal space and all ministries will benefit from additional storage and meeting areas that are essentially non-existent in the current church. Most importantly, the overall plan will add a significant number of additional parking spaces.
During the next several months, our professional consultants will be working with James City County to obtain approval of what will be a new Master Plan for Saint Bede.
Concurrently, our development office is planning the scope and timeframe for a campaign that will include opportunities for the parish to see and react to the plan. The 16-person Around One Table (AOT) Committee has essentially completed its work on the initial design phase. It will be re-organized into smaller and more efficient teams that will carry on with the implementation phases and include more parishioners with interest and expertise in various components of this new and extensive complex.
Special thanks to all those who have served on the AOT Committee: Father Abe, Father Cole, Greg Allen, Greg Ballentine, Deacon Domenic Cerrato, Jack Carey, Charlie Connelly, Brenda Fochtman, Cathy Fronheiser, Matt Hipple, Al Jaroszewicz, Beverly King, John McCormack, Frank McGuirk, Erin Pitre, Don Seger, Barbara Smith, Bill Theroux, and Lynne Williams.
Committee Reports
The Around One Table Committee (AOT) issued several reports to the Parish in May and June 2008. These reports focus on the many problematic issues which all the ministries and staff face on a daily basis due to lack of ancillary space in the new Church (excluding the sanctuary) and the inefficiencies that still exist with maintaining two locations (Ironbound Road and Harrison St).
Report
1 - Education & Catechetical Space (.pdf)
Report
2 - Social & Felowship Space (.pdf)
Report
3 - Problems Associated with Functioning as a Two
Campus Parish (.pdf)